Bobbin holding and braking arrangement



April 25, 1961 A. D. HARMON ETAL 2,981,496

BOBBIN HOLDING AND BRAKING ARRANGEMENT 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 14, 1957 INVENTOR.

D. HARMON NORMAN E. K LElN BY WMZ. 45 M ATTORNEY ALBERT April 25, 1961 A. D. HARMON ETAL 2,981,496

BOBBIN HOLDING AND BRAKING ARRANGEMENT 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 14, 1957 INVENTOR. ALBERT D. HARMON NORMAN E KLEIN mh N9 0: m9

ME now MN m on wh u mm FL mm ATTORNEY April 25, 1961 A. D. HARMON ETAL 2,981,496

BOBBIN HOLDING AND BRAKING ARRANGEMENT 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 14, 1957 IN V EN TOR. ALBERT D. HAR MON NORMAN E. K LEIN M KM ATTORNEY April 25, 1961 A. D. HARMON ETAL 2,981,496

BOBBIN HOLDING AND BRAKING ARRANGEMENT Filed Feb. 14, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 H7 H3 [I5 I23 NVENTOR. ALBERT D. HARMON NORMAN E. KLEIN WWJM ATTORNEY ment and the braking nited States Patent 2,981,496 Patented Apr. 25, 1961 BOBBIN HOLDING AND BRAKING ARRANGEMENT Corporation, Pendleton, S.C., a corporation of Delaware Filed Feb. 14, 1957, Ser. No. 640,223 29 Claims. (Cl. 242-129.8)

This invention relates to bobbin or reel holding spindles and the like, and more particularly to a braked bobbin retaining spindle arrangement featuring positive, easy and quick adjustment of the braking torque as well as positive quick-acting and facile locking of a bobbin in retained position and release of the bobbin for dofling.

More specifically there is provided a novel combined positive bobbin retaining and bobbin braking spindle arrangement wherein both the positive retaining arrangearrangement are controlled through the action of a single easily accessible member, and wherein the braking action is only indirectly applied to a retained bobbin through braking action on a rotatable bobbin-holding mandrel. 7

It is a feature of the braking arrangement that such is self-aligning, adjustable, and resiliently axially biased for smooth adjustable torque application.

It is a feature of the novel bobbin-retaining lock arrangement that a bobbin may be resiliently, yet firmly, held in locked position on a mandrel or the like irrespective of slight variations in length from a desired normal.

A further feature of the retaining arrangement lies in the provision of a positive acting release ring for a plurality of lock dogs, with the release ring being resiliently biased out of engagement with the dogs when the dogs are in bobbin retaining position.

Still a further feature of the retaining arrangement is the provision of a floating resiliently biased dog thrust ring for biasing a plurality of spaced apart lock dogs, particularly bell crank shaped dogs, whereby the relief of bias on one dog will not materially affect the bias exerted by said ring on the other dogs.

Still other features and attendant advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art from a reading of the following detailed description of a preferred physical embodiment constructed according to the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment.

Figure 2 is a diametral section view taken along the line 22 of Figure 1. l

Figure 3 is a partial section along line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a rear end view of the arrangement of Figure 1 showing particularly the detent arrangement.

Figure 5 is an exploded perspectiveview illustrating the keyed aligning torque rocker ring, pressure plate, and friction disc of the brake arrangement.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary section view of the forward end of the spindle arrangement illustrating the cam lever arm and bobbin lock dogs in position for dotfing or donning of a bobbin.

Referring now to the figures of the drawings a mandrel 11 is rotatably mounted on a stationary spindle shaft 13 as through the medium of a rear bearing 15 and a pair of front or outer bearings 17, 19 which may be suitably disposed on a bearing sleeve 21 which is pressfit within a shouldered recess formed in the outer end of the spindle shaft 13.

The bearing 15 is disposed in light press-fit on an intermediate section of the spindle shaft 13 and has its inner race held in fixed axial position as through the medium of a shoulder 25 formed on the spindle shaft 13 and a snap ring 27 engaging a suitable groove formed in the periphery of the spindle shaft 13. The bearings 17 and 19 are disposed in light press-fit on the bearing sleeve 21, and are held in fixed axial position as through the abutting engagement of the inner race of bearing 17 with the outer beveled end of spindle shaft 13, and a snap ring 31 fastened in a suitable annular groove formed in the sleeve 21 and in abutting engagement with the inner race of bearing 19.

The mandrel 11 has formed on one end thereof a flange 11a connecting with an integral base ring portion 11b which is engaged by the brake disc liner of a brake arrangement later to be described. The mandrel 11 is disposed in light press-fit on the outer race of each of the bearings 15, 1'7, 19 and is positively locked in place through the medium of a snap ring 33 which engages an annular end recess formed in the base ring portion 11b.

Spindle shaft 13 is suitably fitted as by a press-fit in a complementary bore 37 formed in a base member 35, which in turn is suitably secured to a spindle rail 39 as through the medium of a three-point mounting arrangement, each of the three points thereof comprising a jack screw 41, bolt 43, hold-down washer 45, nut 47, and lock washer 49, with the nuts 47 being preferably, though optionally, locked in position as by welding a triangular nutplate 43 to the nuts, particularly to aid in case of assembly of the spindle mount.

The rotatable mandrel 11 may be selectively braked through the medium of an adjustable end brake arrangement generally indicated at 51 to provide for a suitable or desired rotation rate of a bobbin B disposed thereon and/or a desired tension in yarn or the like which may be being wound thereon or being delivered therefrom. The brake arrangement 51 comprises an annular brake disc 53 having a friction liner 55 of suitable wear-resistant brake lining or the like suitably secured thereto as through the medium of a plurality of spaced apart rivets 57. Friction liner 55 is resiliently biased into engagement with the end face 11c of the mandrel base ring 11b as through the medium of a compression spring 59, pressure plate 61, keyed aligning torque rocker ring or plate 63, axially adjustable adjuster nut 65 and a rotatable axially extending adjustment screw shaft 67.

Adjuster nut 65 is threadedly mounted on the adjustment screw shaft 67, which is rotatably mounted in the bearing sleeve 21 and extends through a suitable oversized bore in the stationary spindle shaft 13, with its rearmost end threadedly fitted in a detent nut 69 which serves as a journal bearing surface in conjunction with an end recess formed in the spindle shaft 13. The adjustment screw shaft 67 is held against axial movement through the abutment of detent nut 69 with a shoulder formed by the end recess in'stationary spindle shaft 13, and a shoulder boss 73 integral with or suitably formed as by welding on the screw shaft 67 and which is in abutting relation With the end surface of bearing sleeve 21. Rotary adjustment of the adjustment screw' shaft 67 in order to adjust the pressure exerted on the brake disc 53 and liner 55 may beaccornplished through the medium of a cam lever 75 pivotally secured as indicated at 77 on the axially outer or front end of the adjustment shaft 67. The detent nut 69 is removably fixed in position on ,the adjustment screw shaft 67 as through the medium of one or more set screws, which may be set at right angles to each other if desired. The retention of adjustment screw shaft 67 in a particular desired angular position, with a corresponding brake action, may be accomplished through the medium of a detent arrangement comprising one or more V-shaped notches 79 formed in the periphery of detent nut 69, which is resiliently engaged by a freely radially movable detent pawl 81 disposed in a radial bore in the base 35 and spindle shaft 13 and resiliently biased in a radial direction through the medium of a spring 83 engaged therewith and in an annular groove formed in the base 35.

The aligning torque ring 63 forms a limited action universal joint in that each of its axial faces is formed as a plane convex arch, the axis of the two arches being at a 90 angle to one another. The axial pressure exerted on the pressure plate by the compression spring 59 is thus transmitted equally to all portions of the axially movable friction disc 53. The two arcuate faces of the ring 63 are keyed respectively to the pressure plate 61 and the friction disc 53, as indicated at 63a and 63b respectively, thereby linking the pressure plate 61 and friction disc 53 against relative rotational movement. Through the medium of this aligning torque rocker ring 63 the braking torque applied to the end face 110 of the ring 11b will be substantially equal to all points throughout the annular periphery thereof irrespective of minor variations of axial force exerted on the pressure plate 61 by the action of the spring 59 or slight structural variations which may occur between the end face 11c and brake liner 55.

As seen most clearly in Figure 3, the pressure plate 61 (and thus the torque rocker ring 63 and friction disc 53) is held against rotation through the medium of a mounting arrangement comprising pressure plate stud braces 91, and pressure plate studs 93 and 95, the stud 93 being suitably secured to the base member 35 as through threaded engagement therewith.

Thus while the pressure plate, rocker ring, and friction disc are facilely held against rotation through this arrangement, axial movement of the pressure plate 61 is permitted through the medium of the movement of pressure plate stud braces 91.

The spring pressure adjuster nut '65 is beveled on its front face, as seen most clearly in Figure 2 in order to permit the greatest latitude of axial movement thereof in adjusting the braking action of the brake 51. The spring pressure adjuster nut 65 may axially move with its furthermost forward axial face up to and, if desired, within the large central opening 61a in the pressure plate 61, provided that the spring 59 is not completely compressed prior to movement up to this point. It will be apparent, however, that this beveling is optional and might be eliminated if this feature were not desired.

Axial adjustment of the adjuster nut 65, which is axially slidable and held against rotation in a longitudinal and diametral slot 62 formed in the stationary spindle shaft 13 is accomplished through the rotation of the axially extending adjustment screw shaft 67 through the medium of cam lever handle 75 which is conveniently located at the outer axial end of the assembly. It will readily be seen that with right-hand threads on the screw shaft 67, clockwise rotation of the cam lever handle 75 will result in movement of the adjuster nut 65 toward the friction disc 53, thereby compressing the pressure spring 59 and causing an exertion of greater axial force on the end face 110 by the brake liner 55. On the other hand, the braking action may be reduced through the counterclockwise rotation of the cam lever handle 75, thereby backing off the adjuster nut 65 and decreasing the pressure exerted by the brake liner 55 on end face 11c. As stated previously, the spring pressed detent arrangement 81, 83, 69, 79 is facilely employed to hold the screw shaft 67 in a desired rotational position and thus hold the adjuster nut at a desired axial position, with the brake torque being thereby held at a desired level as need may arise. In the horil zontal spindle axis arrangement as shown, the cam lever handle 75 is preferably normally retained in the inactive or set position with the cam lever handle downwardly and thus the detent 81 is arranged to hold the lever in this position, as shown in Figure 2. Obviously, however, this position might be modified as desired, and, if desired a number of positions might be provided for setting the cam lever arm at a particular rotational position.

It is a further feature of the braked spindle arrangement that the brake does not contact and cause wear on the bobbin B, but is active to selectively retard rotation of the bobbin B through the intermediate action of the brake on the flange ring 11b of the bobbin supporting mandrel 11. To this end the flange 11a of the mandrel 11 is provided with one or more bobbin dog screws or other suitable keying arrangement in order to removably key the bobbin B to the mandrel 11. In the illustrated embodiment the bobbin dog screws 97 are diametrally disposed in suitable bores formed in the package mandrel flange 11a and secured as through the medium of lock nuts 99. The end flange of the bobbin B is provided with suitable complementary openings for keying engagement with the dog screws 97.

The bobbin B is selectively retained in locked position on the rotatable mandrel 11 by a bobbin lock dog arrangement generally indicated at 101. It is an important feature that this lock dog arangement is controlled at the front of the assembly through the medium of same cam lever arm 75 as is employed to adjust the brake 51. It is a further important feature that this bobbin lock dog arrangement will accommodate in a firmly locked position bobbins of slightly varied lengths. A plurality of bobbin lock dogs 103 preferably in a bell crank form, as illustrated particularly in Figure 2, are pivotally mounted on an annular dog bearing ring 105 disposed in an internal annular groove 107 adjacent the front end of package mandrel 11. The dog bearing ring 105 is suitably maintained in the groove 107 as through the medium of a dog bearing ring support 109 which in turn is suitably held in position as through the medium of one or more set screws 110.

The bobbin lock dogs are each pivotally movable in a respective one of a corresponding number of slots 111 formed in the mandrel 11, and one leg 103a of the lock dogs is resiliently biased radially outwardly for engagement with the outer end flange of bobbin B, through the medium of a dog bias spring 113 and dog thrust ring cam 115. The dog thrust ring cam 115 engages the inner leg 1031) of each bell crank shaped lock dog 103, while the dog bias spring 113 is suitably seated at its opposite end as on a ring seat 117 which is stopped against rearward movement as through the medium of a O ring 119 disposed in an internal annular groove formed in the mandrel 11. It will thus be seen that through the medium of the dog bias spring 113 the bobbin lock dogs 103 are normally biased in a direction such as to have their outer legs 103a biased into engagement with the outer end of the bobbin B, and thus firmly and positively retain the bobbin B on the package mandrel 11. To the end that the bobbin B will be retained most advantageously, it is preferable that three bobbin lock dogs 103 be provided at 120 intervals about the mandrel 11, although other numbers of bobbin lock dogs might be suitably employed if so desired.

It is an important feature of the bobbin lock dog arrangement that the dog thrust ring cam 115 has an oversized central opening 115a and is disposed in floating engagement with the inner leg of the bobbin lock dogs 103. This feature provides an important function in that if one of the bobbin lock dogs is pressed inwardly so as to tend to press the dog thrust ring cam 115 rearwardly, such will only cant the dog thrust ring cam and this cam will continue to exert a substantial bias on the other lock dogs thus retaining the bobbin B in position on the mandrel 11.

The bobbin lock dogs 103 are selectively biased to bobbin releasing position through the medium of a dog release ring 123 which is actuated through the medium of the cam lever arm 75. To this end the cam lever arm 75 which is pivotally mounted by the roll pin 77 adjacent the outer end of the adjustment screw shaft 67, has a pair of bifurcated end fingers 76 through which the roll pin 77 extends. The bifurcated end fingers 76 each have a flat end surface 76a and a fiat lateral surface 76b with an arcuate connecting edge surface 760 therebetween, the fiat end surface 76a being further from the aXis of the roll pin 77 than is the lateral surface 76b. Thus, when the cam lever arm 75 is in the down position as shown in Figure 2, the dog release ring is pressed axially outwardly to a position disengaged from the bobbin lock dogs 103 by the action of a cam lever relief 125. When the cam lever arm 75 is rotated counterclockwise on the roll pin axis to a position substantially aligned with the adjustment shaft (as shown in Figure 6) the flat end surfaces 76a of the bifurcated fingers 76 force the dog release ring 123 into engagement with the inner ends of the bobbin lock dogs 103 and positively pivot the bobbin lock dogs against the action of the dog bias spring to a position wherein the outer legs thereof are completely within their respective slots 111, thereby releasing the bobbin B and permitting the bobbin to be dofled and another bobbin donned. It will be seen that the cam lever arm 75 provides no interference for dofiing and donning while in this position in view of its being substantially inalignment with the adjustment screw shaft 67 and the mandrel 11, Whereas when the cam lever arm is in the position as shown in Figure 2 wherein the bobbin B is locked on the mandrel 11, it is conveniently disposed in laterally adjacent relation to the outer end flange end of the bobbin B and thus does not interfere with the operator or tend to catch on any part of the yarn or the like as it is wound onto or delivered from bobbin B.

It is an important feature of the bobbin lock dog release arrangement that the dog release ring 123 is biased out of engagement with the lock dogs 103 while the lock dogs are in locked position, and thus neither the dog release ring nor the bobbin lock dogs are subjected to inter-frictional wear during the rotation of the mandrel 11, as would otherwise be the case if this rotationally stationary member Were to be in engagement with the lock dogs during the portion of the time when they are in locked position and the mandrel and they are rotating. Also, the ring seat 117 for the dog bias release spring as well as the dog thrust ring cam 115 are all free to rotate with the bobbin holding mandrel 11 and thus all parts which serve to hold the bobbin lock dogs in bobbin locking position are free from engagement with the stationary spindle shaft 13 and adjustment screw shaft 67. Thus there is no frictional rubbing action on any'of the bobbin lock dog arrangements during rotation of the mandrel 11, and substantially the only frictional braking action exerted on the mandrel 11, other than the very slight retarding action of the mounting bearings 15, 17 and 19, is that exerted by the adjustable brake 51.

The preferred disposition of the entire assembly is as shown in Figure 2 wherein the package mandrel, shaft, etc. are all disposed in a horizontal plane, with the normal locking position of the cam lever arm 75 being down, although it will be apparent that other positions, such as a vertical axial position for the screw shaft, mandrel, etc.

may be employed if desired. The advantage of the horizontal axial disposition of the arrangement is that the operator may quickly and easily dofi" and don the bob- 7 bins B, and that such may be provided at a convenient and suitable height for quick and easy dofling and donning.

With this arrangement as illustrated herein the operator may quickly and easily adjust the braking action on the bobbin retaining mandrel 11 by rotation of the cam lever arm 75 and adjustment screw shaft 77, and that at any tion. It is therefore to be understood that the invention is not to be limited by the details of the illustrated embodiment, but only by the scope of the appended claims.

We claim: 1. An adjustably braked supporting and retaining spindle arrangement for bobbins and the like comprising a bobbin-supporting mandrel, a brake disposed adjacent oneend of said mandrel, a bobbin lock dog arrangement including at least one movable bobbin engaging dog disposed adjacent the opposite end of said mandrel, and movable common brake and lock dog adjustment means including a rotatable adjustment shaftextending axially through said mandrel, and a lever operatively connected in selective brake-controlling relation with said brake and lock-controlling relation with said lock dog.

2. An adjustably braked supporting and retaining spindle arrangement for bobbins and the like comprising a bobbin-supporting mandrel, a brake disposed adjacent one end of said mandrel, a bobbin lock dog arr-angement including at least one movable bobbin engaging dog disposed adjacent the opposite end of said mandrel, and movable common brake and lock dog adjustment means including a rotatable adjustment shaft extending axially through said mandrel, said movable common adjustment means being operatively connected in selective brakecontrolling relation with said brake and lock-controlling relation with said lock dog, said shaft being normally substantially held against axial movement, said mandrel being rotatably mounted about said shaft and being operatively connected in brake-controlled relation to said brake for indirect braking of a bobbin on said mandrel by direct braking of said rotatable mandrel.

3. An adjustably braked supporting and retaining spindle arrangement for bobbins and the like comprising a bobbin-supporting mandrel, a brake disposed adjacent one end of said mandrel, a bobbin lock dog arrangement including at least one movable bobbin engaging dog disposed adjacent the opposite end of said mandrel, and movable common brake and lock dog adjustment means including a rotatable adjustment shaft extending axially through said mandrel, said movable common adpjustment means being operatively connected in selective brakecontrolling relation with said brake and lock-controlling relation with said lock dog, said brake comprising an axially movable brake plate, a spring resiliently biasing said brake plate in a direction toward said lock dog arrangement, a nut threadedly mounted on said shaft, said nut being non-rotatably mounted and axially movable to adjust the pressure exerted by said spring on said disc.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 further comprising a detent arrangement'operatively connected to said shaft and adapted to retain said shaft in a selected angular .7 position for selective positive adjustment of said brake.

ber.

7. An adjustably braked supporting and retaining spindle arrangement for bobbins and the like comprising a bobbin-supporting mandrel, a brake disposed adjacent one end of said mandrel, a bobbin lock dog arrangement including at least one movable bobbin engaging dog disposed adjacent the opposite end of said mandrel, and movable common brake and lock dog adjustment means including a rotatable adjustment shaft extending axially through said mandrel, said movable common adjustment means being operatively connected in selective brake-controlling relation with said brake and lock-controlling relation with said lock dog, a spindle fixed against rotation and having an axial bore formed therein, said shaft extending within said axial bore and rotatably mounted therein, said mandrel being rotatably mounted on said spindle, said brake being disposed in direct selective braking contact with said mandrel.

8. An adjustably braked supporting and retaining spindle arrangement for bobbins and the like comprising a bobbin-supporting mandrel, a brake disposed adjacent one end of said mandrel, a bobbin lock dog arrangement including at least one movable bobbin engaging dog disposed adjacent the opposite end of said mandrel, and movable common brake and lock dog adjustment means including a rotatable adjustment shaft extending axially through said mandrel, said movable common adjustment means being operatively connected in selective brake-controlling relation with said brake and lock-controlling relation with said lock dog, said lock dog arrangement comprising a plurality of spaced apart lock dogs selectively movable to a bobbin retaining position beyond the annular periphery of said mandrel, a common spring disposed along said shaft and biasing said dogs in a direction toward bobbin retaining position, and a cam lever pivotally mounted on said shaft for pivotal movement about an axis transverse to the axis of said shaft, and a connection between said lever and said dogs, said lever being connected in operatively controlling relation to said dogs and adapted to bias said dogs into retracted position for bobbin doffing and donning.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8 further comprising a dog release ring disposed about said shaft between said cam lever and said dogs and being axially movable through movement of said lever to move said dogs to release position upon movement of said lever to aposition substantially in longitudinal alignment with said mandrel, and a second spring disposed in engagement with said release ring and biasing said ring in a direction away from said dogs.

10. An adjustable bobbin braking arrangement comprising guide means, an axially movable non-rotatably mounted nut member slidably engaging and held against rotation by said guide means, a rotatable axially extending and axially stationary adjustment shaft threadedly engaging said nut member, a lever pivotally mounted on said shaft in spaced apart relation from said nut member, an axially movable end brake member having a friction brake surface formed on its axial face thereof facing said lever and being disposed between said nut member and said lever, a rotatable bobbin-holding mandrel disposed between said axially movable end brake member and said lever and being rotatably disposed about said adjustment shaft, a brake pressure spring disposed between said nut member and said axially movable end brake member, said spring being adapted to adjustably bias said brake member toward and into motion-retarding action on said mandrel through axial adjustment of said nut member by rotation of said rotatable shaft.

11. An adjustable bobbin braking arrangement comprising guide means, an axially movable non-rotatably mounted nut member slidably engaging and held against rotation by said guide means, a rotatable axially extending and axially stationary adjustment shaft threadedly engaging said nut member, a lever pivotally mounted on said shaft in spaced apart relation from said nut member,

an axially movable end brake member having a friction brake surface formed on its axial face thereof facing said lever and being disposed between said nut member and said lever, a rotatable bobbin-holding mandrel disposed between said axially movable end brake member and said lever and being rotatably disposed about said adjustment shaft, a brake pressure spring disposed between said nut member and said axially movable end brake member, said spring being adapted to adjustably bias said brake member toward said mandrel through axial adjustment of said nut member by rotation of said rotatable shaft, said guide means being a stationary support member having a longitudinal groove formed therein, said nut member having a radially extending male portion extending into said groove for slidable guiding relation thereof during axial movement of said nut member.

12. An adjustable bobbin braking arrangement comprising guide means, an axially movable non-rotatably mounted nut member slidably engaging and held against rotation by said guide means, a rotatable axially extending and axially stationary adjustment shaft threadedly engaging said nut member, a lever pivotally mounted on said shaft in spaced apart relation from said nut member, an axially movable end brake member having a friction brake surface formed on its axial face thereof facing said lever and being disposed between said nut member and said lever, a rotatable bobbin-holding mandrel disposed between said axially movable end brake member and said lever and being rotatably disposed about said adjustment shaft, a brake pressure spring disposed between said nut member and said axially movable end brake member, said spring being adapted to adjustably bias said brake member toward said mandrel through axial adjustment of said nut member by rotation of said rotatable shaft, a rotatable bobbin holding mandrel, a stationary hollow spindle shaft disposed between said rotatable axially extending adjustment shaft and said rotatable bobbin-holding mandrel, and friction-reducing bearing means rotatably mounting said mandrel on said stationary hollow spindle shaft.

13. An adjustable bobbin braking arrangement comprising guide means, an axially movable non-rotatably mounted nut-member slidably engaging and held against rotation by said guide means, a rotatable axially extending and axially stationary adjustment shaft threadedly engaging said nut member, a lever pivotally mounted on said shaft in spaced apart relation from said nut member, an axially movable end brake member having a friction brake surface formed on its axial face thereof facing said lever and being disposed between said nut member and said lever, a rotatable bobbin-holding mandrel disposed between said axially movable end brake member and said lever and being rotatably disposed about said adjustment shaft, a brake pressure spring disposed between said nut member and said axially movable end brake member, said spring being adapted to adjustably bias said brake member toward said mandrel through axial adjustment of said nut member by rotation of said rotatable shaft and a universal joint disposed about said shaft and in operative connection between said spring and said brake member.

14. Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said universal joint comprises a rocker ring.

15. Apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said rocker ring has two arched surfaces, one on each axial face thereof and disposed with their respective arch axes at a angle to one another, a pressure plate disposed between said spring and said rocker ring, a brake pressure plate, said rocker ring being keyed on its opposite convex faces to a respective one of said pressure plate and said brake member and means for holding said pressure plate against rotation.

16. Apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said means for holding said pressure plate against rotation 9 includes a pair of spaced apart stationary studs and movable links operatively connected to said pressure plate.

17. Apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising a radially movable detent, detent receiving means on said shaft, and means resiliently biasing said detent toward said shaft, whereby said shaft may be selectively held in a desired angular position.

18. Apparatus according to claim 17 wherein said detent receiving means comprises a notch formed in a nut threadedly secured on one end of said adjustment shaft, a set screw in said nut and adapted to hold said nut against rotation relative to said adjustment shaft, means forming a shoulder adjacent the axially inner end of said nut, said nut and said shoulder being adapted to hold said adjustment shaft against axial movement in one direction, a bearing sleeve disposed in spaced apart relation from said last mentioned nut and in surrounding relation about said adjustment shaft, and adjustment shaft having a shoulder thereon adapted to abut said bearing sleeve and thereby hold said adjustment shaft against axial movement in the opposite axial direction, said bearing sleeve being disposed within said spindle shaft.

19. A bobbin retaining spindle arrangement comprising a bobbin retaining and supporting mandrel, a plurality of retaining dogs pivotally mounted for selective movement to a position whereat they extend generally radially beyond the annular peripheral surface of said mandrel and to a retracted position, a first spring resiliently biasing said dogs toward said position extending in a direction gcneraly radially beyond the annular peripheral surface of said mandrel, a lever arranged in operative controlling relation with said spring and adapted to selectively counteract the pressure of said spring on said dogs and move said dogs to their retracted position, and a second spring independent of said first spring and in biasing relation to said lever to resiliently retain said lever in a desired position.

20. A bobbin retaining spindle arrangement comprising a bobbin retaining and supporting mandrel, a plurality of retaining dogs pivotally mounted for selective movement to a position whereat they extend generally radially beyond the annular peripheral surface of said mandrel and to a retracted position, a first spring resiliently biasing said dogs toward said position extending in a direction generally radially beyond the annularperipheral surface of said mandrel, a lever arranged in operative controlling relation with said spring and adapted to selectively counteract the pressure of said spring on said dogs and move said dogs to their retracted position, and a shaft coaxial with said mandrel, said lever being pivotally mounted on said shaft and having a pivot axis transverse to the axis of said shaft.

21. Apparatus according to claim 20 further comprising a dog releasing ring axially slidable through pivotal movement of said lever, said ring being disposed between said lever and said dog.

22. Apparatus according to claim 21 further comprising a second spring engaging said dog release ring and biasing said ring toward disengagement from said dogs, said ring being normally held by said second spring in disengaged position away fromv said dogs when said dogs are in bobbin retaining position.

23. A bobbin retaining spindle arrangement comprising a bobbin retaining and supporting mandrel, a plurality of retaining dogs pivotally mounted for selective movement to a position whereat they extend generally radially beyond the annular peripheral surface of said mandrel and to a retracted position, a first spring resilicntly biasing said dogs toward said position extending in 10 a direction generally radially beyond the annular pa ripheral surface of said mandrel, a lever arranged in operative controlling relation with said spring and adapted to selectively counteract the pressure of said spring on said dogs and move said dogs to their retracted position, said dogs being bell-crank shaped, a dog-bearing ring disposed within said mandrel, said dogs being pivotally mounted on said dog-bearing ring, said mandrel having a plurality of slots corresponding in number of i the plurality of dogs, said dogs being pivotally movable within said slots.

24. Apparatus according to claim 23 further comprising an axially slidable dog thrust ring cam separate from said dog-bearing ring disposed between and in engagement with said first spring and said dogs.

25. A bobbin retaining spindle arrangement comprising a bobbin retaining and supporting mandrel, a plurality of retaining dogs pivotally mounted for selective movement to a position whereat they extend generally radially beyond the annular peripheral surface of said mandrel and to a retracted position, aiirst spring resiliently biasing said dogs toward said position extending in a direction generally radially beyond the. annular peripheral surface of said mandrel, a lever arranged in operative controlling reiation with said spring and adapted to selectively counteract the pressure of said spring on said dogs and move said dogs to their retracted position, said lever being pivotally mounted for movement about an axis transverse to the axis of said mandrel, said dogs being pivotally movable response to transverse pivotal movement of said lever about said transverse axis.

26. In combination a bobbin support, bobbin securing means adjacent one end of said support, a bobbin brake adjacent the opposite end of said support, and a common control member for both said bobbin securing means and said brake and being operatively connected in brakecontrolling relation to said brake and in actuating relation to said securing means, said control member being additional to said bobbin securing means.

27. In combination a bobbin support, bobbin securing means adjacent one end of said support, a bobbin brake adjacent the opposite end'of said support, and a common control member for both said bobbin securing means and said brake and being operatively connected in brakecontrolling relation to said brake and in actuating relation to said securing means, said common control member being a lever.

28. The combination according to claim 27 further comprising a rotatable control shaft operatively connected between said lever and said brake, said brake being adjacent one end of said support and said securing means being adjacent the opposite end of said support.

29. The combination according to claim 28 wherein said bobbin securing means includes at least one movable lock dog operatively connected in controlled relation to said lever.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

